A method of percutaneous aspiration of the nucleus pulposus of lumbar disks is described as performed in four pigs and three cadavers. Through a lateral oblique percutaneous approach, 80-100% of the nucleus pulposus was removed in each of the pigs; approximately 30% of the cadaver disk was removed. A unique aspiration probe and the introducing set as well as the technique are described. The imp...

Four patients who had received chymopapain injections for treatment of herniated lumbar disks were evaluated by computed tomography (CT) because of persistent low back pain and suspicion of infection. Irregularity of the vertebral end-plate and a mottled appearance of the vertebral bodies suggested the diagnosis of disk-space infection in all four cases. CT-guided biopsy of the disk space was p...

Extraforaminal lumbar disk herniation is unusual and often undetected by myelography. Four cases were detected by high-resolution computed tomography. They were verified by surgery in one, diskography in one, and by the clinical course in two cases. Metrizamide myelography in two of the three patients was normal. This suggests that CT can accurately detect the diagnostically troublesome extrafo...

Recurrent disk herniation and postoperative scarring are among the major causes of recurrent symptoms after surgery for lumbar disk disease. The myelographic differentiation between these two etiologies is, at best, difficult. To evaluate the role of intravenous contrast enhancement and its impact on making this differentiation using computed tomography (CT), 98 postoperative symptomatic patien...

The heat transfer equation was used to model the heat distribution in an intervertebral disk during ultrasound (US) exposure. The influence of thermal and acoustic parameters was studied to get a quantitative understanding of the heat transfer in the system. Heating of collagen to 65 degrees C or above will lead to denaturation and is believed to stabilize and contract the outer part of the dis...

Lumbar disk herniation is common. Because of the posterior longitudinal ligament, migration usually occurs into the ventral epidural space. Rarely, fragments migrate into the dorsal epidural space. A 57-year-old man presented with lower back pain and weakness on right hip flexion and right knee flexion. He had lower back pain 1 day previously and received a transforaminal epidural block at a lo...

Spontaneous regression of herniated lumbar discs was reported occasionally. The mechanisms proposed for regression of disc herniation are still incomplete. This paper describes and discusses a case of spontaneous regression of herniated lumbar discs with a new disc protrusion in the adjacent level. A 41-year-old man was admitted with radiating pain and numbness in the left lower extremity with ...

Calcification of cervical intervertebral disks in childhood is a well-known entity [1-7], although the etiology remains unknown. Rarely, disk herniation also may be present and produce symptoms of cord compression . The disk herniation and calcification usually resolve with conservative therapy over a period of a few weeks to several months. We present an interesting case in which the diagnosis...

The absence of universal nomenclature standardization with respect to the definition of a disk herniation and its different categories, especially regarding type and location, is still a major problem that will only be overcome when major national or international scientific societies join efforts to support a particular scheme. Meanwhile, it is important to realize that the two models that are...

THIS is a review of one hundred cases taken from approximately five hundred cases operated upon in Musgrave Park Hospital during the past twelve years. These cases have been selected because of positive findings of disc prolapse demonstrated at operation. The time from operation varies from twelve years to one year, the average length of follow-up being seven years and the majority of cases bei...